House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) on Wednesday called on the Obama administration to allow more exports of natural gas, which he said would help weaken the influence of Russia.
"For years now, we have been pursuing an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy. It’s a big part of our focus on the floor this week, in fact. Because developing our own resources doesn’t just bring jobs home; it strengthens America abroad," Boehner said on the House floor.
"The key word in that statement is ‘can.’ We can supplant Russia’s influence, but we won’t so long as we have to contend with the Energy Department’s achingly slow approval process. As we speak, the administration is sitting on 24 applications for natural gas exports; it’s approved just six in the last three years. This amounts to a de facto ban that only emboldens Vladimir Putin, allowing him to sell large quantities of natural gas to our allies," Boehner argued.
"The President should do the right thing here, and end this de facto ban so we can strengthen our economy here and our security here and abroad," Boehner concluded.